Outrigger Enterprises Group has made some major leadership changes in Waikiki and Asia.
Barry Wallace, who worked for Outrigger for 21 years and last served as the company’s executive vice president of hospitality services, has retired. Robert McConnell, longtime general manager of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, and Dean Nakasone, general manager of the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, have resigned.
“After more than 21 exciting years with Outrigger, I feel it is a good time to see what else might be out there. My Outrigger years provided me with experience in a wide variety of hospitality services, so there is a wide spectrum of possibilities for tomorrow,” Wallace, 63, said.
Changes at the 69-year-old company are a departure from when Outrigger was on nearly every Waikiki corner and founder Roy Kelley, a celebrated micromanager, liked to keep hotels within walking distance. The company first diversified when new generations turned to the neighbor islands and abroad.
Now there are 37 Outrigger properties with approximately 6,500 rooms in Hawaii, Guam, Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius and the Maldives. The focus is on beachfront properties.
Sean Dee, Outrigger executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said the company is moving away from assets that aren’t “iconic tropical destinations.” Last year the company sold its management contracts at the Ala Moana Hotel and four off-beach properties in Australia. It also has renamed its off-beach and more modest Hawaii holdings Ohana Hotels by Outrigger and Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger.
“Many of their off-beach properties in Waikiki were leaseholds. Now the company is there but maybe their brand isn’t. It’s a logical evolution toward their core assets. They own the Outrigger Reef in fee simple — that’s a huge trophy asset,” said Erik Kloninger of Kloninger &Sims Consulting.
Paul Richardson, Outrigger’s chief operating officer with oversight for the Asia Pacific, Oceania and the Indian Ocean, said evolution will keep the company growing. Richardson, who came to Outrigger by way of AccorHotels, will oversee six general managers. He’ll also run Asia Pacific operations, which were formerly based in Thailand. That geographical move eliminated three Asia positions.
“We believe this will unify the brand momentum,” Richardson said.
In August, Outrigger appointed Clyde Min area general manager for Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. The company is searching externally and internally for a new Outrigger Waikiki general manager. It is also combing internal candidates to find a resort manager for the Outrigger Reef. The company will cross-promote its two flagship Waikiki properties along with seven global beachfronts, expecting
to draw new markets to Hawaii.
“A guest who is introduced to the brand from Europe or Asia through an experience at a resort in Thailand may look to Hawaii,” Kloninger said. “The loyalty program might be a draw, too. It depends on the perceived value and what other properties are part of the system.”
